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Jul 26, 2012

My Loan Statement

I know not everyone shares my view of the universe – and that’s okay. However, today, I will be speaking my own opinion and sharing some very personal beliefs. If you disagree those beliefs – that is fine, but I ask that no comments be rooted in the notion of arguing the premise of my creed. I further hope that those who do read my blog share enough common thread on "religion" that this latest revelation will strike a universal chord for most. That is my disclaimer, and now on to my post:
As a dad of many daughters, I must realize and declare that each one is a special gift from God. But perhaps more importantly, that these gifts are not transference of ownership but rather these girls are merely on loan and have been entrusted in my care.
At age 16, I learned my first serious lesson about caring for something that is not truly mine but had only been entrusted in my care. One day after school I was driving home in my father’s Mercedes, albeit an older model but Dad had invested a lot into this vehicle…well, anyway, to make the story short, let’s just say there was this telephone pole that had to be replaced and the German steel didn’t fare too well either.
Now that was my earthly father’s possession, and I failed to treat it properly. He was mad, but far less so than I was embarrassed for destroying his car. It was not my car, nor did I have the means to properly repay the damages. And I felt horrible; however, not horrible enough not to learn the needed lesson outright. That was my first lesson and it took years and required several more incidents of personal failure where I did not properly respect items left in my charge before the lesson sunk in. Eventually (and through a lot of what I now call unnecessary hardship), I did become responsible enough to truly take special care of something in my possession which was not of my ownership.
But again – I stress these failed responsibilities were to mere mortals. While unfortunate and irresponsible on my part, these shortcomings in my younger days only caused harm to people’s stuff, material things, items that would be in a garage sale or junk yard a few years later anyway. This is not my way of diminishing the wrongness of my actions, but rather to illustrate the comparison of importance of a human life on loan from God Himself. So – I had better take such a loan seriously.
On the flip side though, I must not put too much panicky pressure on myself with this issue either. After all, when those “mere mortals” let me borrow things I ruined, they did not have the convenience of being omnipotent and knowing whether my potential for responsibility was sufficient or not. Not blaming those humans, after all (like me) they are imperfect – but God does know my potential. He is certain that I have the ability and am worthy of being entrusted with the loan of my beautiful daughters.
Being human, I will not reach that potential perfectly. I won’t be confident of my ability consistently. I will make mistakes, horrible ones at times. But God still believes in me and trusts me with these precious opportunities. Perhaps like other loans, payments are due, but we do not pay God with money (despite what some televangelists might say). We pay God in acts of love, compassion, worship, kindness and all things that He has said, has seen and has declared to be good. Therefore, God may be aware that during rough times, I may be late with the payment, but He still trusts me not to default on the loan.
I must remember this. I must not default on the loan. For with loans that are not paid, their collateral gets repossessed and given to someone else. Sadly, there are many men who have defaulted. Sometimes men do not hold their end of the deal, and when this happens God does repossess His child and at times places her in a new capable trust.
But let me encourage other men (and remind myself) not to default, to remember the importance of their loan and to cherish those children with the ability and potential that God knows you have.

1 comment:

  1. Dj,

    You know that I'm not a Christian, and so my beliefs are in some ways widely different than what you articulate. But I was deeply moved by a few things you said...things that if they had been spoken more frequently by my Christian role models growing up, might have impacted my path greatly. I think there is wisdom in these words of yours that transcends any differences in belief we might have, so I hope you won't be uncomfortable if I quote you in commenting on your own blog:

    We pay God in acts of love, compassion, worship, kindness and all things that He has said, has seen and has declared to be good.

    But let me encourage other men...to remember the importance of their loan and to cherish those children with the ability and potential that God knows you have.

    In these statements, you reference a God worth believing in. And in making them, you give us a man worth believing in.

    I'm proud to be your friend.

    Love,
    Russell

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